Going Green in Philadelphia

Two Penn State students work together to remove the overgrown weeds from a rain garden that can help manage storm water in Philadelphia.

Going Green in Philadelphia

Penn State Cooperative Extension, Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture, and Penn State Public Media come together to revamp green infrastructure sites as part of the Water Blues, Green Solutions Stormwater Management Project.

Along a busy street in the heart of central Philadelphia, Lee joined a group of other Penn State students, staff, and community volunteers to revamp two green infrastructure sites in the city he calls home.

“I’ve been around central Philly a lot and have seen places similar to this throughout the city,” Lee said. "Everyone who has walked by has been appreciative of what we’re doing.”

Wilson Lee, a junior in the landscape architecture major, carefully places a plant into the revamped rain garden on Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia.

Image: Chelsey Scott

“It’s nice to come in and rehabilitate my community with projects and rain gardens like this."—Wilson Lee

The initiative was coordinated by Penn State Cooperative Extension, Penn State’s College of Arts and Architecture, and Penn State Public Media.

Organizers from Penn State met with the Philadelphia Water Department in June to discuss possible partnerships, touring the sites that eventually would be revamped in this project.

“I was approached with the idea of doing a year-long research project with the sites on Lancaster Avenue, and I loved it,” said Tommy McCann, urban agriculture coordinator and horticulture educator with Penn State Extension.

“I was meeting with Public Media to pitch another idea, actually, and decided instead to run with the Lancaster Avenue project. It took a lot of doing, but has come out wonderful.”

Penn State student Daniel Laimer breaks from the work to chat with Tommy McCann of Penn State Cooperative Extension and alumnus Michael Minchin. McCann and Minchin graduated from the landscape architecture program in which Laimer is currently enrolled.

McCann led the students and volunteers in rebuilding two pre-existing green infrastructure sites: a rain garden and a stormwater bump-out.

These features are intended to capture and absorb stormwater, decreasing polluted runoff while also beautifying the cityscape. Both were drastically overgrown.

“The two sites we worked on weren’t functioning properly. So we fixed them, prettied them up, mulched, planted — the whole shebang. I had a great time and loved seeing students get involved, especially in Philadelphia,” McCann said.

Lee, president of the Landscape Architecture Student Society and aspiring urban designer, was a natural fit for the project.

For Jamie Milletary, a senior landscape contracting major, the project provided an opportunity to explore new options in her field.

“Seeing everything come together has been such an experience of self-realization for me," she said. "I’ve met wonderful people today and this has me excited for what I want to do after college.”

Saturday’s community project, funded by Subaru of America, was part of an outreach effort for Penn State Public Media’s documentary "Water Blues, Green Solutions," which aims to encourage public education and awareness of green infrastructure.

Philadelphia is one of four cities featured in the film, as it is using environmentally friendly techniques to tackle the most pressing water challenges in the United States.

A new 12-credit graduate certificate in international human resources and employment relations (IHRER) is being offered through Penn State World Campus by the School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER).

LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Ally) Student Resource Center will hold Safe Zone 101: Fundamentals of LGBTQ Identity trainings once a month. These trainings are typically three hours and located at the HUB from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Penn State

Teaching students to be leaders with a global perspective. Conducting research that improves lives. Contributing millions to the economy and sharing expertise.